2009 Saturn Sky
The weather was perfect.
A little windy, sunny, but not too humid.
And not too hot to ride with the top down on the Saturn Sky Red Line I got to test drive a few weeks ago.
The best part of test-driving this car -- there's no back seat.
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That means, no kids while I'm enjoying driving with my hair blowing in the
wind and listening to the stereo much louder than usual.
It's pretty indisputable -- the Saturn Sky is a good-looking car.
It's very muscular with a wide, brawny stance that sloops down in the front
and stays meaty in the rear.
My tall husband felt the Sky had more room for him than some competing
convertibles we've had like the BMW Z3 and the recently driven Pontiac
Solstice (see accompanying review). I checked and technically, the Sky isn't
larger than either of these coupes.
With the top up, you've got 38.4 inches of headroom and 42.7 inches of leg
room.
Where the Sky does lack room is the trunk area. Of course, when you pack in
the convertible top, there's not much room for anything else. But there's
less room than in most other coupe/convertibles. The Sky's trunk provides
just 5.4 cubic feet of space with the top up and practically none with it
down.
But, really, who cares about trunk space with a convertible?
As far as I could tell, the top was pretty easy to put up and down, but I
needed a second person to assist. I think it would be possible for one
person to do, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Dropping the top requires the driver to unlatch it at each top corner of the
windshield, push a button in the glovebox and fold the whole thing down into
the rear deck before forcibly slamming it shut.
A lot of manual ragtops are not one-person friendly and none is as
well-designed as the Mazda Miata's which can be put up and down by the
driver, sitting in the driver's seat.
The 2009 Saturn Sky convertible coupe comes in two variations: base and Red
Line.
Standard equipment on both Sky models include 18-inch wheels, a glass window
for the cloth soft top, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a
six-speaker CD/MP3 audio system and satellite radio.
I got to test drive the Sky Red Line, and it came with a standard turbocharged
engine, a stiffer suspension and a limited-slip differential to handle the
additional power from the turbo. Along with the significant performance
upgrades, the Sky Red Line also boasts specialized interior and exterior
trim pieces that add a little punch to the already impressive look.
Major options you can upgrade with include a seven-speaker 225-watt Monsoon
audio system with in-dash CD changer, as well as a Premium Trim Package that
includes leather seat inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio
controls, metallic interior trim and steel pedal covers. Two limited-edition
versions in Ruby Red and Hydro Blue come are available.
I loved driving the Sky, and it was properly powered by a 2.0-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumped out 260 horsepower and 260
lb-ft of torque.
Mileage was not too bad. I got about 25 mpg, with mostly highway miles.
I thought the Sky Red Line had a little less communication with the road, as
compared to the Pontiac Solstice I got to drive the next week.
However, the Sky was a more comfortable ride, and visibility is much better in
the Saturn offering.
The base price for the Sky Red Line I test drove was $31,630. With the
automatic transmission, chrome wheels, upgraded audio system and leather
seats, the price went up to $35,010.
For someone wanting a well-priced, spirited convertible coupe, the Sky is a
great option. The price is right for this coupe/convertible.
2009 Pontiac Solstice
"Why do you keep getting cars we can't all fit in?" asked my son when I got
the second two-seater convertible in a month.
I thought, "Because the test vehicle guy knows I am four-months out from
giving birth and knows how cool it is to take off with no kids in the car
every now and then."
But to Thomas, I said, "Hey, it's perfect for you and me."
And it was.
The Pontiac Solstice is good for enjoying a cool ride with your cool son, or
for just letting it loose on a highway, with the kids at home with their
dad.
One thing I learned about the Solstice, right off, it's a head turner.
Whether parked in the driveway or at Dunkin Donuts, this very curvaceous
roadster had people and their cars slowing down for a better look.
The Solstice is in its fourth year of production and this year the Solstice
debuted a new model with a removable hard-top roof. This was the model I got
to test drive.
Similar to the take-away roof on some Corvette models, the removable top is
concave and must be stored outside the car. This can make it tricky -- you
better be sure it's not going to rain.
The top is concave, giving riders a little more headroom than you'd find in
the Saturn Sky or the Mazda Miata. In the Solstice, you'll find 37.5 inches
of headroom and 42.7 inches of leg room.
I'm not sure if the Sky and the Solstice share the exact same motor, but the
end results are the same.
The Solstice Coupe GXP is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
that kicks out 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Pontiac also brags
about the 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds, making me suspicious if these two distant
cousins (both GM products) don't share the same engine.
Also like the Sky, the Solstice has a standard five-speed manual transmission,
while a five-speed automatic is optional.
I loved driving the Solstice on twisty roads. Handling and suspension made for
a very responsive ride. The Solstice stayed firm, with little body roll in
the car during sharp turns and steering was sharp and sure.
Mileage for the Solstice is average, 19/27 mpg. I got about 23 mpg, with a
combination of city and highway miles.
Inside, the Solstice is a little less comfortable than some competing coupes,
mainly due to the thick transmission tunnel housed under the middle console
area. It makes hip room a bit tight.
Since you take the top off, instead of storing it in the trunk, of course
there's more cargo space -- 5.6 cubic feet -- with the top off.
One thing I didn't like about the Solstice was the lack of visibility you have
through any of the small, but stylish windows. The outline of the car looks
good, but doesn't offer many orifices to see who or what is around you.
The 2009 Pontiac Solstice is available as either a soft-top roadster or the
coupe with the removable roof panel. Both body styles are available in base
or GXP trim levels. Standard on both base models are 18-inch alloy wheels, a
limited-slip rear differential, a tilting steering wheel, OnStar, a trip
computer and an audio system with satellite radio, a CD/MP3 player and an
auxiliary audio jack.
Roadsters have a manual soft top.
The GXP adds a turbocharged engine, performance tires, dual exhaust outlets,
foglamps, a sport-tuned suspension, Bluetooth, cruise control, full power
accessories, keyless entry and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
If you're in the market for a convertible, I would be hard pressed to suggest
a more attractive car than the Solstice.
A definite pro to this car is the pricetag. The base price for my test vehicle
was $30,375 and $33,140 for an option-laden model.
